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Cathrineof Braganza, daughter of the king of Portugal married Charles II. in 1662

"She hath a good modest and innocent look" wrote Samuel Pepys when he saw Charles II.'s new Queen;

but unfortunately this was not enough. Catherine of Braganza spoke no English, she was a Roman Catholic, and her protected childhood, overshadowed by a domineering mother, had left her completely unprepared to cope with the worldliness of the English court.

She was old by the standards of the day to be marrying for the first time - most royal ladies had had several children by the time they were twenty-four.But whatever the personal disadvantages, diplomatically the marriage was a great success .

The Braganza dynasty was a new one, and this alliance reaffirmed Portugal's old links with England. safeguarding it from Spanish attacks; in return, England received Tangier, Bombay, and almost £350,000 - though it was eighteen years before Charles received full payment.

Catherine was shocked and very unhappy when she discovered she was expected to receive Charles's current mistress - Lady Castlemaine -at court. She refused to do so, but Charles insisted and a long, furious quarrel ensued, during which all Catherine's Portuguese ladies were sent home. Finally Catherine gave in - she had no option - and from that time on was obliged to receive Charles's mistresses as and when he gave them appointments at court.

Catherine was devoted to her husband and he, in his way, was fond of her, though he only showed his feelings for her during her pregnancies. None of these were successful, and she suffered many miscarriages. After one such tragedy she was seriously ill with puerperal fever and Charles spent many days and nights by her bed until she recovered.

As they grew older Charles turned to her more for companionship. She, is in her turn, learned to tolerate his mistresses, and as she was fond of children was kind to many of his bastards. As it became obvious that Catherine would never bear Charles an heir, he was urged to divorce her. Feeling in the country ran high against her, mainly because she was a Catholic. In 1678 she was drawn into the Popish Plot scandal, Titus Oates accusing her of attempting to poison the King, and the House of Commons passed an address requesting her removal from Whitehall. Only Charles's protection saved her from a public trial, and the following year he stood by her again. when the House of Lords begged him to divorce her and produce an heir by a second wife.

For all of their married life Catherine had prayed that Charles would become a Catholic, And as he lay dying in 1885 she was instrumental, with his brother James, in bringing a Catholic priest to his bedside to ensure that he died a member of the true Church. She sent a message to him asking his forgiveness for any pain she might have caused him during his life, and he answered "Alas, poor woman! She ask my pardon? I beg hers with al] my heart."

After Charles's death, Catherine lived quietly at Somerset House, After Monmouth's rebellion he asked her to plead with James II for his life - which she did, for Charles's sake. But it was in vain. James called her in to witness the birth of his heir in 1688, and though Catherine - and many others - later swore that the Prince of Wales was Mary of Modena's true son, rumours of a "warming pan baby" persisted. Following the Glorious Revolution Catherine was at first on good terms with William of Orange and her niece Mary, but later their relations grew strained and Catherine decided to return to her homeland. It took several years for her to persuade the government to pay out the money due to her - her pension and other sums left to her by Charles - but finally in 1692 she sailed for France.

She was greeted rapturously in Portugal. Her brother, King Pedro II. consulted her frequently on matters of policy, and Catherine's opinion was referred to by his ministers.

During her life with Charles she had learned the lessons of diplomacy and politics well, and Portugal benefited from her experience. Pedro fell seriously ill and in 1704 Catherine was appointed Queen Regent of Portugal. Her administration was a sound one, marked by several victories over the Spanish. She died, respected and loved, at the height of her power on the last day of 1705.

Catherine of Braganza has been almost forgotten in the country where she was Queen for twenty-four years, but the success of her rule in Portugal is still remembered.

		"She hath a good modest and innocent look" wrote Samuel Pepys when he saw Charles II.'s new Queen; but unfortunately this was not enough. Catherine of Braganza spoke no English, she was a Roman Catholic, and her protected childhood, overshadowed by a domineering mother, had left her completely unprepared to cope with the worldliness of the English court. She was old by the standards of the day to be marrying for the first time - most royal ladies had had several children by the time they were twenty-four.But whatever the personal disadvantages, diplomatically the marriage was a great success .
The Braganza dynasty was a new one, and this alliance reaffirmed Portugal's old links with England. safeguarding it from Spanish attacks; in return, England received Tangier, Bombay, and almost £350,000 - though it was eighteen years before Charles received full payment. Catherine was shocked and very unhappy when she discovered she was expected to receive Charles's current mistress - Lady Castlemaine -at court. She refused to do so, but Charles insisted and a long, furious quarrel ensued, during which all Catherine's Portuguese ladies were sent home. Finally Catherine gave in - she had no option - and from that time on was obliged to receive Charles's mistresses as and when he gave them appointments at court.